Air pollution is a nasty thing, which is known to increase the risk of Alzheimer’s or various degenerative diseases. With that being said, it may surprise you to know that your home may also be susceptible or air pollution. With toxic air found everywhere, including your house, it can be cause for alarm because you wouldn’t want your family to be put at risk for such diseases.
Fortunately, there are ways you’ll be able to make your house safer and healthier to breathe in, thanks to some simple measures and investing in eco-friendly products. But what exactly do you need to do?
Read on as I show you eight ways to turn your home from toxic to green!
Here are the smile things you can follow for a cleaner, greener home:
1. Investing in Wooden Furniture
When you use natural materials as furniture (specifically wood), you will have the sturdy and safe furniture compared to using artificial things (such as plastic). Focus on investing in wooden furniture which were harvested and/or finished sustainably using environment-friendly oils, varnishes, and paints. That way, it is healthy for the environment and your home
2. Using Energy-Efficient Lights
Rather than to use incandescent light bulbs which produce a ton of carbon dioxide and heat, go for energy-saving lights for your home, which can lessen your energy usage and offer good lighting without any safety hazards. They also prevent the house from creating air pollutants.
3. Having Energy-Saving Windows
Consider owning energy-efficient windows with big openings and allow ample sunshine in the house for fresher air. Even just five minutes of this fresh air can improve the air quality inside your house. I recommend that you go for fiberglass, vinyl, or wood windows.
4. Decorative Plants
To create the change of being green, you’ll need to have some plants in your home! Start decorating the house with plants like bamboo palms, aloe vera, or other favorite flowers and plants which are known to reduce air pollutants. They also provide awesome psychological health benefits, soothing the whole household and increasing concentration! Not only will you get healthier air and a brighter atmosphere but a well-decorated home without the huge investments.
5. Using Organic Wool
It’s best to invest in organic wool-stuffed materials for your pillows, bedding, carpets, or other furniture. That way, you protect your household from any bed mites or dust which case asthma and allergies.
Plus, wool is fire-retardant, which prevents wool from needing chemical retardants toxic to the air and your skin. Not only is it healthy but fire safe!
6. Decorating With Environment-Friendly Wall Paints
For those who are planning to paint their walls for added decoration, you must know that your usual paint may contain a ton of chemicals that pollute the air. With volatile organic compounds that create paint and carpets, it may cause headaches and nausea.
Invest in low or non-VOC paints, those made from plant oil or other extracts which still make your home beautiful while being good for your health.
7. Solar Panels
Solar panels may be quite an expensive investment but they are an absolute must for any green home. They don’t emit harmful waste but use clean energy without excavating or combustion.
Another awesome part about using solar panels is that the house saves a ton of money while receiving tax rebates. You can use this investment for decades and get your money back while staying healthy, thanks to tax credits, as well as clean energy from the sun!
8. Recycle Glass Tiles
For those who want to put good use of their glass tiles, why not create a beautiful design and install them to your bathroom or kitchen? What’s great about these tiles is that they don’t soak up stains or water which breed molds and bacteria. Plus, installing glass tiles are great for our environment because it will reduce glass products that pile up in local landfills.
Wrapping It Up
There are many ways you’ll be able to make your house greener and healthier. But the one thing you can start with for now is through educating the whole household on green living and becoming a role model in eco-friendliness. That way, you lessen the risk of allergies and diseases in the future.
Hopefully, these eight ways to turn your home from toxic to green gave you an idea on the steps to take when becoming an environment-friendly household. So don’t wait any longer and begin the change with a good source today!
If you have any questions or would like to share your tips and experiences on being eco-friendly, then comment below.
I would love to hear what you have to think and please share this article!
We switched over to homemade cleaners and eating real foods. I love the idea of using solar panels or geothermal to heat and run our home, and I hope we can make that switch one day.
Hi,
Glad to hear that you have switched over to homemade cleaners and eating foods – that is so important for good health. Thank you for stopping by and commenting. Have a healthy, happy & blessed!
Wooden furniture is my favorite. It’s not always easy to find quality, sturdy pieces made of wood and leather. I’m holding out on replacing our living room pieces until I find what I’m looking for.
I’m going to power my bakery with solar panels this year. I’m very excited!
HI Robin,
That great that you’re going to use solar to power your bakery. Hope you find exactly what you want in furniture because I usually do the same thing – sometimes it takes quite a while but I usually find it.
Marla, I’d love to have the solar panels. We have looked at them for a couple years. Love the ideas you shared.
Hi Candy,
We have also looked into solar panels and I love the idea of them but at this point in our lives it would not be cost effective. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Good points made. We have a long way to go at our house, and these tips are helpful.
Thank for stopping by and commenting. Glad you found my tips helpful. Have a healthy, happy & blessed day!
I’ve been switching over to homemade, nontoxic cleaners to help reduce the vocs in our home. I didn’t use many store bought cleaners before, but I’m on a mission to get rid of all of them!
Great ideas! Thanks for sharing!
HI Lisa,
Glad to hear that you are switching over to homemade cleaners. Homemade work just as well and some much better plus they will save you a lot of money. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
So many times we are focusing on what’s outside the house, how we garden etc and not what’s in the house! Great post.
HI Nancy,
Yes you are right about that – sometimes we forget about the inside of our house which we spend more time in than outside. Thank for stopping by and commenting. Have a healthy, happy & blessed day!
Real plants and Real wood.. two outstanding things, I love things made of real wood that lasts for so long.. I don’t like seeing cheaply made things that only last such a short time.
Hi Valeria,
I agree with you. I also like real plants and real wood. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Hopefully we will be installing solar panels in a couple of years. I found some natural paints when re did out kitchen last summer and they worked great.
HI Candy,
We have consider solar panels but at this stage in our lives that would not be cost effective at least not for the entire house. I use no VOC paint all the time and it works great. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.